Guns N’ Roses (often abbreviated as GNR) is a hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. It has existed without interruption since 1985. One of their greatest hits is the song “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” recorded in August 1986, which first appeared on their debut studio album Appetite for Destruction released on July 21, 1987. The song was next released as a single in August 1988, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it would be the band’s only number 1 US single. It was released again in 1989, reaching then number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
The music was composed collectively by the group, on the basis of melodic pieces by their guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin. Their singer Axl Rose supplied the intimate lyrics, which are based on a poem he had written for his then girlfriend, Erin Everly, daughter of 1960s pop icon Don Everly of the Everly Brothers.
Here is the music video from the group’s official YouTube channel:
Here are the song’s lyrics from AZLyrics:
Sweet Child O’ Mine
She’s got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
It takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I’d probably break down and cry
Sweet child o’ mine
Sweet love of mine
She’s got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I’d hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I’d hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain
To quietly pass me by
Sweet child o’ mine
Sweet love of mine
Sweet child o’ mine
Sweet love of mine
Sweet child o’ mine
Sweet love of mine
Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Sweet child o’ mine
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Where do we go now, now, now, now, now, now, now now?
Sweet child, sweet child o’ mine
In collaboration with author James Patterson, Guns N’ Roses transformed the song’s lyrics into a children’s book, which appeared in September 2020. It is a narrative about the adventures of Maya and Natalia Rose, the daughter and niece of their manager Fernando Lebeis. The latter said in the release:
My sister and I have been lucky to be able to watch our daughters — Maya and Natalia Rose — grow up while touring with the guys (the band).
The book was illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin, see its cover at the top of this article. As writes the book’s description:
The first and only picture-book interpretation of Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” lyrics, inspired by the adventures of Maya and Natalia Rose, two young girls who have grown up touring with the band!
With evocative, sweeping paintings from artist Jennifer Zivoin, Sweet Child O’ Mine celebrates love and music, and how they bring us together in the sweetest ways.